+[[!meta title="Radio"]]
# Amateur Radio and Rockets
## Why Radio? ##
## Legal Context ##
-It is not clear to us that all of the approaches people have taken over
-the years to put off the shelf radios in rockets are actually legal.
To legally operate a radio transmitter, we need to understand and adhere
-to the rules that regulate use of the radio frequency spectrum. But when
-commercial radio components are used in ways the original designer did not
-envision, the rules against which they were designed and certified may not
-still apply. But because rocket flights are short and often happen in
-remote places, and the chance of harmful interference to other radio users is
-therefore pretty small, we're never heard of anyone being fined or
-prosecuted over this.
-
-In the United States, the rules that matter to us are published by the
-Federal Communications Commission, or [FCC](http://fcc.gov/). Under Part 15
-of the FCC rules, it is possible to design and build radios that can be used
-without each user needing to hold an FCC license. However, complying with
-those regulations isn't trivial and isn't cheap.
-
-But all hope is not lost! There's an alternative, unambiguously legal
-approach to operating our radio links. FCC Part 97 and its equivalent in
+to the rules that regulate use of the radio frequency spectrum. In the
+United States, the rules that matter to us are published by the
+Federal Communications Commission, or [FCC](http://fcc.gov/). Under various
+sections of the FCC rules, particularly Part 15, it is possible to design
+and build radios that can be used
+without each user needing to hold an FCC license. Complying with those
+regulations isn't trivial and can get expensive. Fortunately, there is
+an alternative.
+
+FCC Part 97 and its equivalent in
other countries define an "amateur radio" (sometimes called "ham radio")
service. Holders of amateur radio licenses can transmit on many different
frequency bands in many different operating modes, using equipment that does
## Getting an Amateur Radio License ##
-To legally operate a TeleMetrum system as designed in the USA, you need at
-least a "Technician Class" amateur radio license. This is the entry level
-license, and getting one is actually pretty easy. If you've been through
-the written teste for a Level 2 high power rocketry certification, taking a ham
-radio license exam is a similar kind of experience. The test is multiple
+To legally operate a [TeleMetrum](../TeleMetrum) system as designed
+in the USA, you need at least a "Technician Class" amateur radio
+license. This is the entry level license, and getting one is actually
+pretty easy. The exam fee is low ($15?), and the license is good for 10
+years and renewable for life. Anyone who has been through
+the written test for a Level 2 high power rocketry certification will find
+taking a ham radio license exam a similar sort of experience. The test is
+multiple
choice with questions taken from a pool that is completely published ahead
of time, and there are some great online resources for learning the material
-and taking practice exams until you're ready to take the real test.
-This [ARRL page](http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/classes.html) is a good place
-to start.
+and taking practice exams until you're ready to take the real test. This
+[ARRL page](http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/classes.html) is a good place
+to start. We also have it on good authority that the book and iOS app
+available from [Ham Radio School.com](http://hamradioschool.com) are pretty
+good.
+
+## Operation in Other Countries ##
+
+In Australia, we have learned that operation of our products is legal
+without a license in the range 433.05-434.79 Mhz under the
+[LIPD](http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2011C00543) provisions. However,
+please be mindful of ham radio and other possible licensed users in that
+band as licensed users have priority.
## Related Equipment ##
-It's entirely possible to use just a TeleMetrum in a rocket and a TeleDongle
+It's entirely possible to use just a [TeleMetrum](../TeleMetrum/)
+in a rocket and a [TeleDongle](../TeleDongle/)
on the ground with simple wire whip antennas and nothing else. But there are
other pieces of amateur radio gear that we think are worth mentioning because
we find them useful too.
A popular class of commercially available ham radio transceiver is commonly
known as an "HT". These are hand-held, cover one or more frequency bands,
-and usually are meant to operate primarily using narrow-bandwidth FM voice.
-Various companies make and sell them, and they have multiple uses at a rocket
+and usually are meant to operate primarily using narrow-bandwidth FM
+voice. Various companies make and sell them, and they have multiple
+uses at a rocket
launch. Like walkie talkies or FRS radios (but better!), they can be used to
-talk to others on the flight line, coordinate search activities, and so forth.
-Choosing a "dual band" or "multi band" model that covers both the "2 meter"
+talk to others on the flight line, coordinate search activities, and so
+forth. Choosing a "dual band" or "multi band" model that covers both
+the "2 meter"
and "70 centimeter" bands is a good idea, since 2m is a good band for local
-voice conversations and the audio tones put out by TeleMetrum for direction
-finding are in the 70cm band.
+voice conversations and the audio tones put out by [TeleMetrum](../TeleMetrum)
+for direction finding are in the 70cm band.
Keith and Bdale both currently own and use the
-[Yaesu VX-6R](http://yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=111&encProdID=4C6F204F6FEBB5BAFA58BCC1C131EAC0&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0)
+[Yaesu VX-7R](http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=111&encProdID=8D3254BFC69FB172D78647DC56EFB0E9&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0)
at launches.
### Antennas ###
Almost any antenna that covers 435 Mhz can be used for receiving signals
-from TeleMetrum.
+from [TeleMetrum](../TeleMetrum).
The best hand-held commercial directional antennas we've found for radio
direction finding rockets are from
1x2, 1/8 inch brazing rod for the parasitic elements, and work-hardened 12
gauge copper wire for the driven element. The longer versions are great
for roving in radio contests, and the 6-element 432 Mhz design works fine
-for chasing TeleMetrum-equipped rockets.
+for chasing [TeleMetrum](../TeleMetrum)-equipped rockets.
+
+### Other Uses for an Amateur Radio License ###
+
+The [ARRL](http://www.arrl.org/) web site is full of information about other
+things that people do with amateur radio.
+How about a Doppler radar system for tracking rockets at a launch site? Yes,
+someone has actually done it! See [this page translated from Russian](http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://serge77.rocketworkshop.net/radar/radar.htm&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhi33e0TGe5WOcXr1HpoZBgzjDLy7g)
+for the details!
projects / web / altusmetrum / blobdiff